Hailing from the Bronx and playing locally at Hofstra University, Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting right tackle Willie Colon has been protecting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger since he was selected with the 34th pick in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft. Now, the big 6-foot-3, 315-pound Colon has a Super Bowl ring to show for it, after helping to keep Roethlisberger upright enough to help the Steelers capture an NFL-leading sixth Super Bowl championship, as Pittsburgh defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII last week.

2) Nathaniel Lester Leads Hofstra To A Big Conference Win:

It’s been a slower than expected transition to college ball after starring at Brooklyn’s Canarsie High School for 6-foot-5 swingman Nathaniel Lester, but about three-quarters of the way into his sophomore season, Lester finally appears to be demonstrating the skills for which he was highly recruited by the Hofstra men’s basketball team. After scoring in double figures in just six of 30 games during his rookie campaign, Lester failed to do so in his first 19 games this season. Lately though, Lester has turned it on with his best stretch so far as a member of the Hofstra Pride, scoring in double figures in four of his past five games. His best performance came on Saturday, February 7th, in a huge spot. Hofstra’s captain, their best player and leading scorer, Charles Jenkins, picked up his fourth person foul with the Pride trailing CAA rival Towson 43-40, with 15:57 left in the game. With Jenkins relegated to the bench until the 6:21 mark, Lester carried the Pride, scoring 19 of his career-high 21 points in the second half, and helped keep Hofstra tied, 57-57, before Jenkins’ return. Lester was a main factor with 4 points and a big block after that point, as the Pride pulled out a 71-68 victory in the final minute, keeping their hopes alive for a fourth-place finish and a key first-round bye in the CAA tournament in March.

3) Lance Stephenson Leads Lincoln To Brooklyn AA Title:

The Abraham Lincoln High School boys’ varsity basketball team served notice to the rest of the city that it’s still very dangerous as long as it’s led by one of the nation’s top college prospects, Lance Stephenson. Despite a higher than expected eight losses this season, Lincoln and Stephenson are poised to make a run at a fourth straight city title after Stephenson dominated yet again last week. Stephenson had game highs of 29 points and 16 rebounds as Lincoln (15-8, 13-1 Brooklyn AA) captured the Brooklyn AA Division Title with a 64-54 win over Boys & Girls on Thursday, February 5th. Two days later, Stephenson again had game-highs of 40 points and 15 rebounds in an 82-65 victory over Canarsie.

4) A Pair of Giants Clinch Pro Bowl Victory For The NFC:

It was a far cry from earning his Super Bowl MVP the year before, but New York Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning gained a measure of satisfaction by winning the first-ever battle of brothers competing in an NFL Pro Bowl game, on Sunday, February 8th, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Manning’s brother Peyton was 12-for-17 for 151 yards and a touchdown, but Eli completed 8 of 14 passes, throwing for 111 yards, and the game-winning touchdown to Pro Bowl MVP Larry Fitzgerald, giving the NFC a 24-21 lead over the AFC with 4:03 left in the game. Giants’ 44-year-old kicker John Carney, who was a perfect 3-for-3 on both field goal and extra point attempts, clinched the 30-21 NFC victory with two field goals in the final 2:06, including one from 48 yards.